It is always best to see how a person behaves over a long period of time and outside of the context of dating.
Agreed. I had known the single mom and 4 kids that I proposed to last year for 8 years previously. She knew I was a polygamy supporter for the last three of those years. We often did family activities together. No one was going to her son's football games so I started going regularly (every young man should have someone rooting for him in the stands). After a while our attraction and closeness got embarassing for others around us and it seemed like we would either have to stop seeing each other or I should propose. I proposed. But despite everything that happened previously apparently she was not ready for it and it did not work out (and it also ruined a good friendship). Sad but true story.